Mr. Smith did not receive his medication on time, as ordered, because his nurse forgot about it and went on her lunch break. Consequently, Mr. Smith's condition deteriorated, and he was sent to the emergency room. What legal term describes this form of professional negligence?
Liability
Malfeasance
Malpractice
Dereliction of duty
The Correct Answer is C
In this situation, the nurse's failure to administer Mr. Smith's medication on time as ordered, resulting in harm to the patient, could be considered malpractice. Malpractice refers to a failure to meet the standard of care that results in harm to a patient.
Option A refers to legal responsibility for one's actions, but it does not specify the type of wrongdoing.
Option B refers to wrongdoing or misconduct, but it is not specific to the medical profession.
Option D refers to a failure to fulfill one's duties or obligations, but it does not necessarily imply harm to a patient.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
When preparing to administer medications, the nurse carefully confirms the drug order and the patient's identity. This is an example of the ethical principle of nonmalfeasance. Nonmalfeasance refers to the principle of "do no harm" and requires healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to their patients.
Option A refers to wrongdoing or misconduct and is not applicable in this situation.
Option C refers to truthfulness and honesty, but it is not the primary principle being demonstrated in this situation.
Option D refers to fairness and equality, but it is not the primary principle being demonstrated in this situation.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
An incident report should be filed whenever an unexpected event occurs. The rule of thumb is that any time a patient makes a complaint, a medication error occurs, a medical device malfunctions, or anyone— patient, staff member, or visitor—is injured or involved in a situation with the potential for injury, an incident report is required ⁴. In this case, the client's missing dentures would be considered a complaint and would require the nurse to complete an incident report.
The other options do not require an incident report. Disagreeing with the nurse manager about inadequate staffing [a], a staff member not arriving at the facility to work an assigned shift [b], and discovering that the client does not have advanced directives [d] are not situations that would require an incident report according to the information provided in my sources.
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